Toronto, ON – A video just released by Environmental Defence uses satire to draw attention to the very real risks associated with TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline – the largest and longest tar sands pipeline proposal in the world. Narrated by a British actor, with a striking resemblance to famous British naturalist David Attenborough, the video follows tar sands oil from its excavation in Alberta, across Canada via a pipeline and eventually to an oil tanker in the Atlantic Ocean. Called Great Canadian Migrations, the video juxtaposes the narrator’s rosy commentary about “the greatest of all Canadian migrations” against stark footage of the tar sands and news clips showing oil spills in Canada and the United States. The video highlights the risks of Energy East, including contributing to climate change, massive pollution in tailings ponds and the threat of an oil spill, all while making viewers chuckle at the narrator’s absurd optimism. “The tar sands and climate change are no laughing matter, but we hope by using humour to reach a wide audience and raise awareness about the significant risks associated with the Energy East mega-pipeline,” says Keith Brooks, Environmental Defence’s Clean Economy Program Director. “Energy East has many risks, especially to communities along the route, with few benefits for Canadians.” If built, Energy East would ship 1.1 million barrels of tar sands oil from Alberta to Canada’s east coast. Much of that oil would be destined for export. “Energy East is not a made-in-Canada energy solution. It wouldn’t create many jobs. And it won’t fix the oil industry’s problems, such as price volatility,” Brooks says. “The tar sands are some of the most expensive oil in the world to produce so they are particularly vulnerable to this. Canada should be reducing our reliance on the tar sands. Let’s get off the boom and bust oil rollercoaster and move toward the safe, modern clean economy that Canadians overwhelmingly support.” Energy East would worsen Canada’s global warming pollution. Producing the additional oil needed to fill Energy East would increase Canada’s net greenhouse gas pollution by 32 million tonnes, equivalent to putting seven million new cars on Canada’s roads. This is as much climate pollution as was reduced when Ontario shut down all its coal-fired power plants over the last decade. This number does not include the emissions from burning the oil. TransCanada filed for the proposed Energy East pipeline late in 2014. Watch the video here. About ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (www.environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is Canada’s most effective environmental action organization. We challenge, and inspire change in government, business and people to ensure a greener, healthier and prosperous life for all. -30- For more information or media requests, please contact: Naomi Carniol, Environmental Defence, 416-570-2878 (cell), ncarniol@environmentaldefence.ca